Loose-leaf binder



July 19, 1921. 1 636,428

c. ST. c. MULLINS LOOSE LEAF BINDER Fi led June 1'1. 192s INVENTORQ 757mu M ATTORNEYS;

Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES onannn srfcnam minmns or rrnsnme, new YORK.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed June 17, 1926. Serial No. 116,506.

"This invention relates to binders forloose leaves, and relatesparticularlyto a binder adapted to hold large sheets of paper, maps ordocuments without tearing or mutilating the same, and which will permitready removal of the individual papers or maps if desired, and alsopermit the insertion of additional papers or maps without disturbingthe'others already in the binder.

Binders intended for holding large sheets of paper and relatively largemaps such as insurancemaps, must be rugged in construction and must alsobe sufficiently flexible to prevent injury on account of the heavyweight of the documents which they contain. My improved binder providesan improved means for holding'the sheet-retaining posts in the covers bymeans of a metal reenforcement inserted in the back of the covers, soconstructed that it affords great strength. It possesses suflicientresiliency topermit the book, comprising the enclosed maps and covers.to be readily opened and closed without injury, and to provide easyaccess to the individual sheets either for reference or for removal.Covers are attached to themetal reenforcing by an improved arrangementof the canvas retaining stripvthat is attached to the covers and theback so that a durable and flexible hinge is provided between the coversand the back of the book. Also means are provided for holding thesheetsin adjusted position with respect to the binding post so that mutilationof the sheets bytearing or otherwise, will be avoided when the book ishandled, and particularly when it is filled completely or approximatelyto its capacity, and the covers are quickly openedfor inspection of thecontents.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obviousfrom thelfollowing particular description of one form of deviceembodyingthe invention or from an inspection of the "accompanying drawings;

and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

In the drawings:

invention; I i

' "Fig. .2 shows a portion of the binder in -1 shows a sectional viewthrough a loose leaf binder embodying features of-the Fig.3 shows plan.view of the binder open position.

claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, butthey are .in

In the following description and in tended to be, as generic in theirapplication' tosimilar parts. as the art will permit.

0 Referring to thedrawings, the binder comprises two units, the cover orhinder proper, and the securing means therefor mounted within the cover.Thecover com- I prises the two flat leaves or sides 10 and 11 of any,desiredsize, preferably made froma plurality of heavy sheets ofpressboard'12 and 13 or otherv suitable material, and :1

curved back 14, both the sides and back being enclosed by a'stout outerfacing 15 of canvas or similar material. The back 14 has one or morefiller strips 16 .mounted thereon and extending lengthwise thereof,which g Secured to the back of. he binder, prefhold the sidespermanently spaced adefinite a erably-to the filler piece 16, is a metalframe 2 or casing" 17, that is, generally; speaking, troughshaped or'U-shaped in section. This metalframe or casing extends lengthwise ofthe back but is narrowerthan the adjacent filler piece 16, both endsofwhichextend-beyond the base 18 .of the frame 17', forming abutmentsfor ,a purpose hereinafter de scribed. The arms 19 and 20 of the frameor casing extend at right-angles to the base 18 substantially. parallelwith the sides of the binder in their closed position, and the outer orfront edgesterminate' in beads 21 and 22 which may be interrupted atintervals to formhotches 23 to receive the binding pieces, ashereinafter described.

Th'e'metalframe or casing 17 is reenforced; by reenforcing angleplates24 and 25 at'both corners, eachof thesaid reenforcements being securedtov the adjacent arm ofthe metal frame 17in a suitable, manner, asbyrivets 26. 1 V

The hinge between each 1 cover and. the I back and between each coverand the'metal I frame or casing,vis formed by -stout strips 27 and 28 offlexible material-such as canvas. The outer strips 27 may be integralwith the facing 15'ofT-the cover, or as'shown herein may be a separatepiece'havi-ng portions, 29

and 30 inserted between the facing 15 and cover 10 and between thefacing 15 and back 14 respectively. The other or inner strip 28 is aseparate piece which is secured to the inside of the cover, and extendsbackward toward the back of the binder so as to overlap the hingeportion of the outer strip 27, and is then bent downward and forward andover the adjacent arm 19 or 20 of the metal frame or casing, therebyenclosing the bead 21 or 22 on the front edge of the metal arm, suitableopenings being made in the canvas to correspond with the notches 23formed in the beads. From the head 21 or 22, the inner strip 28 isextended to cover the portion 31 of the reenforcing strip 24 or 25whicl1 is riveted to the arm of the frame, and a strip of paper orcanvas 32 covers the portions of thereenforcing strips which engagethebase 18 of the frame. Near the edge of the cover the outer andinner'strips may be sewed together forming a seam 33 running the lengthof the binder.

A suitable space remains between the rear edge of the canvas hinge. andthe abutments formed on the back fillers, and a suitable flexiblefilling material 34: is inserted in this space which may be in the formof a rope or twine which forms a fulcrum between the covers and theback. This fulcrum point is arranged outside of the arms 19 and 20 butadjacent to the base 18 of the frame, whereby it provides the maximumresistance against bending the frame when the covers are open. The ropeor other filling material may extend transversely across the back ateach end of the frameas shown at 35.

The notches referred to as formed in the ed es of the beads receive aplurality of bolts or binding pieces, 36 shown three in number, forholding the sheets 37 in the binder. Each binding piece is provided withperforations 38 at either end, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and rodsextend through these perforations and the beads, to hold the bindingpieces removably in position in the binder. The diameter of each bindingpiece is preferably substantially uniform from end to end, with one endportion preferably unthreaded and the opposite end portion threaded fora suitable distance to receive a clamping nut.

The sheets to be bound are perforated along the binding edge in awell-known manner to receive the binding pieces. An angle clamping plate39 is mounted on these binding pieces, and for this purpose has one ofits sides provided with perforations, and its other side bent at anangle thereto to engage the edges of the sheets which are bound in thebook. A clamping nut 40 is threaded on each bolt to hold the clampingplate and sheets in positions I In operation, the leaves which are to bebound are placed in a pile with the punched venient.

edges along'the same side. The clamping plate is then applied with theprojecting side engaging the edges of the sheets, and the bolts are theninserted preferably with the unthreaded portions lowermost, and are sopositioned that the apertures at the ends are in alignment. The clampingmeans are then applied to each bolt.

The cover is now opened and the securingmeans unit positioned therein. Arod is then inserted through one bead and thro i ig the alignedapertures of the bolts. cover is then closed and the other head is heldso that it is in alignment with the apertures in the/other ends of thebolts, and the second rod,'such as shown in Fig. 2, is then inserted. Itis obvious that sheets may be removed from either side of the binder bywithdrawing the rod from either the threaded or unthreaded ends of thebolts asdesired. In my improved construction the hinge, which is formedof a plurality of layers of strong material such as canvas, ispractically indestructible. The hinge is furthermore protected againstinjury in ordinary use or "handling by means of the yielding backingwhich is mounted adjacent tothe hinge between the rigid metal frame orcasingand the-abutment provided by the extending ends 7 of the fillerpieces," forming a part of the backof the binder. The inner hinge stripextends rearwardly until it preferably contacts with this backing piece,whereby maximum flexibility in the hinge is secured, and italso-providesa stop or abutment against forward displacement of thehacking. Consequently, maximum movement of the sides of the binder ispermitted without injury or strain to the metal frame or the back of thebook. The binding piece may bedetachable at both ends, so that maps orother heavy documents may be'inserted either at the top or the bottom,whichever maybe more con- The maps, documents or other articles, arefurther protected by means of the angular backing plate which is looselymounted on the binding piece and is automatically adjusted to thequantity of doom ments in the binder. v

'lNhile I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexedclaims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms anddetails of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made bythose skilled in the,

art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I 7

cured to the back and providing a flat sur-" face substantially at rightangles to the sides having two arms, means for detachably securing metalposts to said frame arms, an outer back rigidly secured to the frame andcovers each hinged to said back by flexible strips, one of said stripsbeing secured to the cover and to the back on the outside thereof, andthe other strip being secured to the cover on the inside thereof, and toboth sides of one of the arms of said frame.

3. A holder for loose leaves comprising back and side members, a metalframe secured to said back and having flanges extending forwardlysubstantially parallel with the side members, the edges of said flangeshaving notches formed therein, a separable binding unit comprising aplurality of perforated bolts projecting within said notches, each ofsaid bolts having means adjustably positioned thereon for exertingbinding pressure on the leaves, and a retaining' rod extending throughand guided by each flange edge and extending through the perforations insaid bolts, a flexible strip connecting said back and each of said sidemembers, a fibrous member adjacent the hinge portion of said side memberand being held against forward displacement by a loop formed from saidflexible strip secured to said side member and said metal frame.

4. In a binder for loose sheets, documents and the like, the combinationwit-h metal posts of a rigid back including a filler piece and a metalframe, said frame having arms secured to the posts, and covers eachhinged to said back by flexible strips, one of said strips being securedto the cover and to the back on the outside thereof, and the other stripbeing secured to the cover on the inside thereof, and to both sides ofone of the arms of said frame.

5. In a binder for loose sheets, documents and the like, the combinationwith metal posts of a rigid back including a filler piece and a metalframe, said frame havln arms secured to the posts, and covers each mgedto said back by flexible strips, one of said strips being secured to thecover and to the back on the outside thereof, and the other strip beingsecured to the cover on the inside thereof and to one side of one of thearms of said frame, and a fibrous member positioned between saidmetalframe and said first mentioned strip.

6. In a binder for loose sheets, documents and the like, the combinationwith metal posts of a rigid back including a filler piece and a metalframe, said frame having arms secured to the posts, and covers eachhinged.

to said back by flexible strips, oneof said strips being secured to thecover and to the back on the outsidethereof, and the other strip beingsecured to the cover on the inside thereof and to bot-h sides of one ofthe arms of said frame, and a fibrous member positioned between saidmetal frame and said first mentioned strip.

7. In a binder for loose leaves, documents and the like, the combinationwith metal posts of rigid back including a filler piece and a metalframe, said frame havin arms secured to posts, an angular re-en orcingsheet for each of said arms secured to said frame, said back beinghinged to each of said covers by flexible strips, one ofsaid stripsbeing secured to the cover and the back on the outside thereof, and theother strip being secured to the cover on the inside thereof, and to oneside of one of the arms of said frame, and to one side of thecorresponding angular re-enforcing sheet.

8. In a binder for loose leaves, documents and the like, the combinationwith metal posts of a rigid back including a filler piece and a metalframe, said frame having arms secured to posts, an angular reenforcingsheet for each of said arms secured'to said frame, said back beinghinged to each of said covers byflexible strips, one of said stripsbeing secured to the cover and the back on the outside thereof, and theother strip being secured to the cover on the inside thereof, and to oneside of one of the arms or said frame and to one side of thecorresponding angular reenforcing sheet, and a fibrous member positionedadjacent said back and metal frame. e

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

CLAUDE sir; CLAIR MULLINS.

